Backwater-trap.



Patented Jan. 1.8, 1910.

ns. wAsumctoN n c W. G. BURNS.

BAGKWATER TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15,.1909.

Mummy M W. o. BURNS, BACKWATER TRAP.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1909. 946,894.

Patented Jan. 18,1910.

@Mentor W/LL/AM'I-o. EUR/vs ICE..

WILLIAM C. BURNS, OF UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO.

BACKWATER-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 18, 191m.

Application filed March 15, 1909. Serial No. 483,563.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM C. BURNS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Upper Sandusky, in the county of Wyandot and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Backwater-Traps, ofwhich the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates to backwater traps, broadly; and it has for itsobject to provide a trap of simple and improved construction which willoperate efliciently to prevent water backing from the exit system,without the use of valves and seats for the same.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve theconstruction and operation of this class of devices.

lith these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts,which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theinvention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showinga backwater trap constructed in accordance with the invention, and partscooperating therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section on theplane indicated by the line 2-2, in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side elevationof the device as seen from a position approximately at right angles toFig. l. Fig. l is a, sectional detail view of the basin or receptacle ofthe trap.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

5 designates a basin or receptacle of suitable dimensions, the samebeing made preferably of cast-iron and provided near its lower end witha laterally extending neck 6, which constitutes the sewer connection,and which is preferably formed with a terminal flange 7, suitablyconstructed to enable the proper connection to be made with the pipes ofthe sewer. The receptacle 5, which may be made of any desired dimensionsis pro vided with a detachable lid or cover 8, se

'22, upon which a trip-lever i cured detachably by means of bolts orother fastening means for the passage of which apertures will be formedin the anges 9, with which the receptacle as well as the lid areprovided. Near the upper end of the receptacle 5, is formed a stuffingbox 10 having a gland 11, said stufling box serving for the passage of apipe 12, having at its inner end a flange 13, to prevent the withdrawalof said pipe. rlhe pipe 12 is exteriorly threaded at its outer extremityfor the reception of an elbow 14:, which is adjustable to variouspositions by turning or rotating the pipe 12 axially in the stuffing boxthrough which it extends. The lid 8, of the receptacle 5, has a centralaperture 15, for the reception of a pipe 16, which extends upwardlyabove high water mark. A fioat 17, which is vertically movable withinthe receptacle 5, is provided with a stem 18 that extends upwardlythrough the pipe 16. The receptacle 5 is preferably sunk in the floor ofthe cellar of the building which is to be protected, the floor levelbeing indicated by the line 19; a trench 2O is formed for theaccommodation of the elbow 14, which latter is provided with anextension 21, of any desired length; said extension, which constitutesthe inlet, being preferably formed of sheet-metal or other relativelylight material such as hose.

A bracket B, which may be securely mounted under the ceiling or whichmay be attached to any suitable supporting means, is provided with adownward extending arm m is pivotally mounted. The trip-lever T isprovided with a longitudinal recess or socket 23 wherein an extensionmember 24 is slid-ably mounted, said extension member being pivotallyconnected at its outer end with the float carrying stem 1S; to regulateand adjust the downward movement of the lioat a stop Q5 is provided;said stop being vertically adjustable in a socket 26, depending from thebracket B, by means of a setscrew Q7 that operates in a slot 28 in saidsocket; said stop member 25 being provided at its lower end with alaterally extending lug 29, lying in the path of the extension member ofthe trip lever so as to limit the downward movement thereof. It will beseen that the extension member 24 is capable of sliding freely in thesocket 28 of the trip-lever, thus enabling the float carrying stem tomove up and down in a vertical plane. rIhe trip-lever T is prollt) vidednear its inner end with a downward extending' lug 30, the function ofwhich will be presently made apparent.

The bracket B supports a pulley 31 over which is guided a. flexibleelement, such as a rope 32, one end of which is connected with theextension 2l from the elbow 14C, while the other end of the rope carriesa weight 33, whereby the elbow and the extension pipe 21, fitted in saidelbow, will 'be counterbalanced. rI`he weight carrying end of the ropeis equipped with a stop member such as a ball engaging a fork or notch35 in a lever 36, which is pivotally supported upon an arm 37 dependingfrom the bracket B, and which constitutes a trigger, one end of whichextends in the path of the lug 30, at the heel of the trip-lever T. Thelatter lever is provided with an arm or bracket 3S, offset to one sidethereof and carrying an adjustable counterweight 39, for the purpose ofcounterbalancing the weight of the float, which is connected with. thefree end of the trip-lever.

lhen the parts are properly assembled and adjusted for operation, thestop member 34 upon the rope 32 engages the fork 35 of the trigger 3G,which latter engages the lug 30 at the heel-end of the trip-lever; thecounterweight 39 of said trip-lever having been previously adjusted tocounterbalance the float and related parts so that the parts willoperate freely when the trigger is released. The object of thecounterbalance on the trip lever is to overcome the friction where thetrigger engages the lug of the trip lever, making it easier to release;thus the backwater does not have to elevate the entire weight of thefloat and its connections before the trigger will be released but, beingcounterbalanced the force of the backwater on the float is exerted toovercome the friction at the trigger, thus allowing the use of a muchsmaller float. The elbow 14k with its inlet extension 21 will beaccommodated in the trench 20; the weight carrying rope 32 beingpreferably connected with said elbow extension 21 by means of a clamp Oencircling the pipe or extension and having an aperture 1 for thepassage of the rope which is held adjustably in said aperture by asetscrew 4:2; by this simple arrangement re-adjustment of the parts maybe very easily made whenever it shall be needed. The weight carrying endof the rope 32 depends from the pulley 31. The parts will maintain theserelative positions as long as water passes freely and unobstructedly outthrough the trap; as soon, however, as the water backs into the trap thefloat 17 will move upwardly in the receptacle 5. tilting the trip-leverand releasing the trigger', thus causing the weight 33 to descend and toswing the elbow 14 with its extension to an approximately verticalposition; the pipe 2l is obviously to be made of such a length thatitwill extend above highwatei.' mark. thus permitting water to back upinto said pipe without flooding the premises.

As will be seen from the foregoingl description, this improved backwatertrap is not only simple in construction, inexpensive and capable ofbeing easily installed; but it will operate efliciently to prevent waterfrom backing into and flooding the premises without the use of valvesand valve seats which are liable to be rendered inoperative at the timewhen their services are most. needed by obstructions of various kinds;the improved device herein described will operate with efliciency andcertainty at all times when its services are needed; and it may beefliciently and successfully employed not only for cellar drains orsewers, but in any location where a backwater trap is needed.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. A valvelessbackwater trap, comprising` a receptacle having a sewer connection atitslower end and provided near its upper end with an inlet, a piperotatably connected with said inlet, an elbow connected with said pipeand having an extension and trigger held means for moving the elbowextension from an approximately horizontal to an approximately verticalposition when water backs into the receptacleV from the sewer, and floatactuated means for releasing or tripping the trigger.

2. A backwater trap comprising a receptacle having a sewer connectionand an inlet, an elbow pipe connected rotatably with the inlet, meansfor .lifting the extended end of the elbow pipe, a trigger engaging thelifting means, and float actuated means for tripping the trigger.

3. In a backwater trap, a receptacle having a sewer connection and aninlet, an elbow pipe rotatably connected with the inlet, means forlifting the extended end of the elbow pipe, a trigger engaging thelifting means, a float within the receptacle, and trigger releasingmeans actuated by the oat.

4. In a device of the cha yacter described, a receptacle having a sewerconnection at its lower end and provided near its upper end with aninlet surrounded by a stufling box, a pipe extending through thestulling box and having a flange at its inner end, an elbow upon theouter end of said pipe, a suitably guided weight-carrying ropeadjustably connected with the elbow, a pivotally supported notchedtrigger, a stop member upon the weight carrying rope engaging the forkin the trigger, a pivotally supported trip-lever having a lug extendingin the path of the trigger, a float movable in the receptacle and havinga stem connected with the trip-lever, an adjustable stop member to limitthe downward movement ot the float, and a counterweight connected withthe triplever.

5. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having a sewerconnection at its lower end, a tube connected with and extendingupwardly from the lid of said receptacle, a float within the receptaclehaving a stem extending upwardly through the tube, an inlet near theupper end of the receptacle comprising a pipe extending through androtatable in a stuliing box, said pipe being provided with an elbow atits outer end, a suitably guided flexible member connected at one endwith the elbow and having a counterweight at its opposite end, a notchedtrigger, a stop member upon the flexible element engaging the notchedtrigger, a trip-lever having a lug extending in the path of .thetrigger, an extension member slidably connected with the trip-lever andpivotally connected with the stem of the ioat, and means for limitingthe movement of the loat.

G. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having an inletequipped with a stutling box, a flanged pipe extending through androtatable in said stuling box, an elbow connected with the outer end ofsaid pipe, a clamp upon said elbow having an aperture and a set screw, arope extending through the aperture and held adjustably by theset-screw, a counterweight upon said rope, guiding means for the rope, astop member adjustable upon the rope, a trigger engaging the stop memberto retain the rope and the parts connected therewith 'in a predeterminedposition, a suitable trip lever engaging the trigger, and means actuatedby a float within the receptacle for actuating the trip-lever.

7; In a device of the character described, a receptacle having asuitable connection and an inlet, a pipe adjustably engaging the inletand having a laterally extending elbow at its outer end, suitably guidedflexible means connected with the collar and having a counterweight, atrigger engaging the flexible member to retain the inlet in apredetermined position, a trip lever engaging the trigger, anextension-member slidably connected with the trip lever, a float in thereceptacle, a stem extending from the float and connected pivotally withthe extensionmember of the trip-lever, and adjustable means located inthe path of the slidable extension of the trip-lever to limit themovement of the latter and the parts connected therewith.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM C. BURNS.

